Town comparison
Darlington vs Richmond
Which is better to live in? 11.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Darlington offers lower property prices by roughly 76%. Richmond has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Richmond edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darlington
£182,726
Richmond
£764,893
Crime Rate
Darlington
90.9
Richmond
47.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darlington
92.6%
Richmond
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Darlington
452.8
Richmond
294.6
EPC Rating
Darlington
71.4
Richmond
70.3
Median Income
Darlington
£27,988
Richmond
£29,895
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Darlington is £182,726, which is 76% less than Richmond at £764,893. The most affordable entry point in Darlington is a flat at £109,070, while in Richmond it is a flat at £576,882.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 85% pricier in Richmond (£806,167 vs £122,880).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Richmond prices grew faster — 14% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 47.4 offences per 1,000 people, Richmond is the safer of the two – 92% lower than Darlington's 90.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Darlington is violent-crime, while in Richmond it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in North EastRichmond has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 92.6% in Darlington. Darlington has 31 schools in total, while Richmond has 5.
Darlington School Inspection Breakdown
92.6% of 31 schools (24 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Richmond School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (3 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darlington | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 31 | 5 |
| Primary | 24 | 3 |
| Secondary | 7 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 92.6% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Darlington offers faster average downloads at 452.8 Mbps, compared to 294.6 Mbps in Richmond. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Darlington and 81.6% in Richmond. Gigabit availability stands at 89% in Darlington and 51.4% in Richmond.
Darlington is the faster of the two by 54% on average download speed (453 vs 295 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Darlington are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 70.3 (band C) in Richmond. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,197 in Darlington and £1,432 in Richmond. 65.6% of homes in Darlington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.5% in Richmond.
Darlington has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 59.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,895 in Richmond and £27,988 in Darlington. The median age is 44.5 in Darlington and 48.1 in Richmond. Employment rates stand at 53.6% in Darlington and 56.9% in Richmond. Owner-occupancy is 62.6% in Darlington versus 68.4% in Richmond.
| Indicator | Darlington | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 93,058 | 8,076 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £27,988 | £29,895 |
| Employment Rate | 53.6% | 56.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.6% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 34.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darlington and Richmond?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Darlington or Richmond?
Is Darlington or Richmond safer?
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